salifert test kits

[cyclops23]

im going to get some test kits from aquarium supplies plus, but i was wondering what kits do i need to get. i already have two hagen kits(calcium and ph) because no one carries salifert by me. the kits i got in my cart are: alkalinity, phosphate, nitrate and ammonia. do i need any other ones?

 

[mg426]

Calcium,nitite Mabe Magnesium

 

[LaloV.]

Maybe silicates, nitrites, it also depends if your tanks is in cycling process, maturing, etc..

 

[cyclops23]

it is cycling again, i had to tear it down due to a phytoplankton bloom. on the plus side i added a 30g sump and a 30g fuge. ok, nitrites, but do i absolutely need a magnesium or silicate kit?

 

[CarmieJo]

I don't have them...

 

[boviac]

Depending on what salts you use you may need to supliment Mg. Test kit will really help here. You'll know Mg is low if you have a hard time keeping Ca buffered but I don't recommend going that route. If you're using RO/DI water you probably won't need a silicate test kit but hey it's always nice to know whats going on. I have those that you have plus Phosphate and Magneseium

 

[Sk8r]

If you want to keep corals you will want mg. If fish, you may need nitrite/trate. I'm corals, and don't own a nitrite kit, eg. Just depends on your goals, which is why everyone is giving you different answers. The great 3 for corals are calcium, mg, alk; for fish, it's ph, nitrite/trate, ammonia, phosphate. And everybody needs salinity (I use a refractometer) and temperature: I recommend 2 thermometers of different type: never trust just one.

 

[cyclops23]

thanks, i'll just get all of them. if im going for broke, might as well do it in one shot BTW, a little off topic, whats the best way to strain frozen food without dumping in the water it thawed in? would a tea strainer work?

 

[cyclops23]

anybody? bump

 

[facewedgie]

fine mesh net, the kind used for live brine. any lfs will carry one.